When Alex stands back up from where he was crouched with a scowl on his face, I'm already glaring at him with my arms crossed over my chest.

"Next time could you be more clear about wh- what?" He cuts himself off when he sees my facial expression. I roll my eyes.

"He heard you! He could have seen you!" I exclaim and Alex waves a dismissive hand.

"Johnson was too preoccupied with pathetically complimenting you to take notice." Alex retorts, and I don't miss the dig he makes at Chris. However, I don't get to respond when Kathy speaks up, looking back and forth between the two of us.

"Is there something I should know about?"

"It's a long story." I sigh with a tired smile and she frowns.

"You two aren't dating or anything, right?" She asks.

Alex and I both laugh at her question, amused that she could think of something so utterly bizarre. "No, Kathy, we are not dating." Alex responds and I nod. She looks between the two of us again before shrugging.

"Okay."

She moves behind her desk, taking her seat again before leaning over and whispering to me.

"You need to tell me where you meet all these hot guys from," she comments and I giggle.

"You've only met Chris?" I ask and her eyes dart to Alex's who is watching us with raised eyebrows.

"Oh!" I laugh, slapping a hand over my mouth.

"Shh!" Kathy slaps my arm and I laugh harder.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear your conversations for the sake of Kathy." Alex smirks and Kathy turns a dark shade of red, realising he heard her.

That only makes my laughter increase as Kathy pushes up her glasses. Alex winks at her and I roll my eyes playfully.

"Could you do me a favour and put these in a vase for me please?" I ask Kathy, extending the flowers to her. She nods, taking them from my hands and sniffing them before sighing.

"These smell awesome." She comments and I laugh with a nod.

"They do."

"He must be a sweet guy to bring you flowers." She says suggestively and I laugh.

"He's a good friend."

"If you two are done, our shift is starting Sophie." Alex deadpans and I roll my eyes before bidding my goodbyes to Kathy and taking over from Renaé.

"So," Alex begins again and glance at him from where I'm getting the crayons for the children. "who did you actually say was the one who fetched you?"

"Oh." I say, taking a box of the colours and putting them on the tables where the children are currently sitting down with blank papers on front of them.

"I said it was my mom."

Laughter follows my answer and I turn around to face Alex who is struggling to contain his amusement.

"Sophie?" Zenzi tugs at my shirt. "Why is Alex laughing like that?" She asks, looking at him in confusion. I glance at him briefly.

"Oh, I wish I knew."

"What on earth made them believe that?" He asks incredulously and I shrug.

"I made it believable. I said she grounded me."

His hazel eyes look me dead in the eye. "I take my hat off to you, Cooper. You've got some skills."

I scoff. "I hardly call lying a skill."

"But it's one you've acquired nonetheless."

I turn to face him quickly, my eyes losing all trace of humour. "Not because I wanted to." Alex's lips drop into a firm line and I can't help but let out a sigh. Just because I know how to lie, does not mean I enjoy it. I did not make a point to learn to lie so effortlessly however, since I was an Elite, Alex is correct, it's something I've acquired anyway.

I would never be able to survive if I hadn't.

I'm startled when my phone decides to ring and reach into my jean pocket to retrieve it. The minute my eyes catch sight of the name which lights up the screen, my face breaks into a wide grin. I don't hesitate to pick up the call nor do I bother to hide my giddiness.

"Rachel!" I squeal into the phone and she laughs on the other end, the sound bringing many memories to mind.

"You're not going to believe it!" She asks me and I smile, turning my back to the children.

"What?" I ask, excitement bubbling away in my voice.

"Are you ready for th-" Rachel is cut off when a voice right beside my ear starts moaning. I instantly recoil to see Alex smirking naughtily at me and I push his shoulder, only for him to come back and do it again. I cringe at the sounds, them being very suggestive. Besides that fact that Rachel is probably assuming the worst right now, we're in front of children and Alex certainly should not be making those noises.

"Alex!" I hiss and he lets out a hoot. When I press my phone back to my ear, I hear Rachel clear her throat.

"Uh, did I catch you at a bad time?" She asks me awkwardly and my eyes widen.

"Gosh, no! I'm not... I'm not doing what that just sounded like. There's just some childish idiot over here who doesn't know when to cut it out." I glare at Alex. He sarcastically blows me a kiss in response.

I roll my eyes.

Rachel laughs in relief. "Thank goodness. That would have been awkward. Anyways, back to what I wanted to tell you- are you ready?" She asks me.

I nod to myself. "Yes! Just tell me already."

She laughs on the other side again. "Okay, okay! I... am coming home!" She exclaims. As soon as the words leave her mouth, I stop in my tracks, gaping at nothing in particular. My mind can't seem to grab onto her words and I feel as if she's spoken to me in Mandarin before her words hit me full force.

She's coming home.

When I finally manage to make sense of this, I feel my eyes growing watery as I reflect back ad to how much I've missed her and how much has changed over the time she's been gone.

"Sophie?" I hear her ask over the line. "Are you still there?"

I wipe at my nose, sniffling a little. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Gosh, I'm so happy to hear that Rach. I've missed you so much!" I croak, not bothering to hide my emotions.

"Oh no. Please don't cry Soph. I don't want to cry." She laughs thickly over the phone which I join her on.

"Why are you coming back?" I ask.

"My dad has finally received his referral back there. Plus, I want a job back where it doesn't snow." She mutters and I throw my head back in laughter.

"That's great Rach! When are you coming?" I ask and she 'mmhs' over the phone.

"In a week or so." She replies and I nod, feeling complete giddiness overcome my body and I grin, biting at my thumb.

"Does, uh, Zoe know?" I ask and she snorts over the phone.

"She doesn't talk to me anymore, Soph. You're not the only one she cut off." She says without a hint of anger but rather hurt. I didn't blame her. Rachel was best friends with my cousin, Zoe, who moved to Australia a few years back, not too long after my dad abandoned us, to live the life of an Australian. I have a feeling that the reason why she left was simply because she was from my father's side of the family and of course, after he left there wasn't really a reason for them to stay. Except the fact that she was my best friend despite her- and Rachel- being a year older than me. That's how I met Rachel; through Zoe. Rachel and I really connected and we formed a close bond, becoming best friends and forming the three musketeers in the end. However, like I said, after Zoe left, she cut contact with me and Rachel. I don't know why she did that to Rachel but she did nonetheless.

Over the course of last year, Rachel and her family moved to New York since her dad received a job transfer. I was completely heartbroken. Rachel was the last person besides my mom who was near me and her family were basically my second family, and they were suddenly leaving. Rachel and I have always been close. I mean, we never attended the same school even when she was still in school however, we spent any free time we had together and I was really disappointed to have to give that up.

So the fact that she's coming back is incredibly great news and I couldn't be more happy to he welcoming back my best friend.

"Who cared, right?" I laugh dryly "I'm just glad to be hearing the great news." I respond.

"I'm so relieved. And- Yes mom?" I hear Rachel yell over the phone before groaning. "That's my mom, Soph. She's calling and you know she waits for no one."

I laugh at that.

"I'll chat soon 'kay?" She asks.

"'Kay. Bye Rach." I say before she cuts the call.

When I slip my phone back into my pocket and turn to face Alex who is watching me curiously, I raise an eyebrow, embarrassed that he saw me feeling so emotional. Once again.

"What?"

"Who was that?" He asks me while leaning against the wall which makes his arms flex in the process. I pull my arms away from them.

"My best friend," I respond curtly, returning my attention back to the children.

"You have a best friend outside of the Elite?" He asks, dumbfounded.

I almost laugh.

"Yes Alex. Believe it or not, but I actually have a life outside of the Elite."

He purses his lips. "Why were you so emotional?" He asks and I try to determine whether it's concern in his voice or simply curiosity to know my business. However, I find myself answering anyway.

"She lives in New York but she's coming back." I explain and he gives me a small smile.

"That's nice."

He then continues on with what he was doing while I continue with my given task all the while thinking that things may finally be looking up.